Mask.



No. 865,996. PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907..

R. K. GATT;

, MASK. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. 1906.

"7n: NDRRIs PETERS 50., WASHINGTON, n. c.

RICHARD KENT GATT, OF ABBOTSFORD, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

MASK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

Application filed March 8,1906. Serial No. 304,966.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD KENT GATT, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Hoddle street, Abbotsford, in the British State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, district superintendent Metropolitan Fire Brigade, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Mask, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved mask or face protector to prevent inhalation of smoke and other fumes or foul air, and which mask is made air tight upon the face of wearer by aid' of a pneumatic cushion, while a sight opening of mica or other material is provided at its front part, also the mask carries a compressed air chamber or reservoir from which to supply air to the wearer and further it is fitted with a telephone transmitter and receiver.

The invention will be most useful for firemen and persons who are called upon to work in noxious or foul atmospheres The invention will now be described aided by a reference to the attached sheets of drawings in which Figure 1 is a side View of my invention arranged in position upon a mans head, and Fig. 2 a front view of the mask, Fig. 3 a sectional detail of the air outlet valve and pneumatic cushion, and Fig. 4 a central section of one of the valves for regulating the discharge of air from reservoir. Fig. 5 a section on line 11 Fig. 4.

A is a light mask of metal or other suitable material fitting close upon the forehead, cheeks and chin of the wearer by its inner elliptic edge being furnished with a pneumatic tube cushion B, which is seated on a hollow flange a, while at the front hemi-spherical surface of mask is an opening A which is filled in with mica, glass or other suitable transparent material to allow of the wearer seeing therethrough. Attached by pins a to the lower surface of mask is an inclosed cylindrical chamber 0 for compressed air, and said chamber is divided into two compartments 0 and c, the compartment 0 being about one third the capacity of the other compartment 0 and both chambers are furnished with inlet nozzle and retention valves marked 0 and 0 respectively, also each chamber is connected by small pipes marked 0 with the interior of mask, while the discharge of air from the compartments is controlled by valves marked 0 The object in dividing the air chamber into two compartments being to allow the smaller compartment to be retained as a reserve cham ber in which to store suflicient air by means of which a fireman or the wearer may return to a place of safety when he finds that the air in the larger compartment is nearly given out. Each of said outlet valves consist of a hollow plug 0'' afiixed to said small pipe or tube 0 the upper part of which fits snugly within and passes through a small branch 0 descending from the mask.

The plug 0 is provided with say, three radial holes as c of differing sectional area so that the discharge of air from the compartments can be regulated by bringing the larger or smaller one of the holes 0 opposite the discharge hole in the plug casing 0 by partially rotating a finger nut c secured on the tube 0 or the discharge of air may be stopped by bringing the solid part of the plug opposite the hole in plug casing.

The nozzles c and c are screwed to receive the coupling piece of a cycle or similar pump, also a pressure gage D is provided on the air chamber C.

At the top of the mask is an air outlet valve A for vitiated air, said valve being held on its seat by a spring A while secured to the top part of mask is a pliable strap spring clasp E which passes over and bears again st the back of the wearers head, its purpose being to hold the mask in position, while a pair of bifurcated straps F are buckled securely together at the back of the wearers head, said straps being secured one at each side of mask A, and they are bifurcated to clear the ears of wearer.

G is a screw cap upon a nipple or branch G 011 side of mask, and which branch when the cap is off may receive the coupling piece of a hose which contains the two insulated wires for the telephone connections, and which hose may convey air to the wearer while the said wires branch off from the hose and are connected with the posts a Further as said hose is part of the firemans equipment when wearing the mask, the hose, when disconnected from branch G may be used for conveying water and at same time it conveys the electric current to the telephone.

Within the mask at a position just in front of the wearers mouth is a telephone transmitter II, the receiver H being supported outside the mask by a spring arm H secured to the mask, and at a position opposite one of the wearers ears, and said transmitter and receiver are connected up by wires passing through said hose with an electric battery which is not carried on the mask. The aforesaid pneumatic cushion B consists of a rubber tube secured to or seated upon the elliptic edge of mask A and when secured a flange on it is grasped between a band a and'the inner surface of mask as shown in Fig. 3, also said pneumatic tube is fitted with a valve nipple B for connection to a pump by means of which it is filled with air.

In some cases the mask is used without the telephone and hose attachments hence it is not desired to limit the claims to the mask precisely as shown in the drawings.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mask or face protector, a body A having a sight hole A fastening" straps F and spring clip secured to the body, said body having a hollow flange a, a pneumatic cushion B seated on said flange, an air chamber C carried by said mask and formed with two compartments 0 and c the body A, regulating valves 0 in said connections, and 10 tubes connecting the compartments with the interior of air inlet valves for the compartments. the mask, regulating valves 0 on the tubes, air inlet In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in valves 0 and c on the air chamber and the air outlet presence of two subscribing witnesses.

5 valve A on the body, substantially as described.

2. In a mask or face protector, a body A, fastening RICHARD KENT GATT straps F secured thereto, a spring clip E cooperating with Witnesses: the straps, a pneumatic cushion B on the body, an air W. J. S. THOMPSON,

chamber C having two compartments each connected with E. M. TIRTSCHKE. 

